The Scene is the night nursery again, and everything is as before. It is again early evening. the window is open. In arm chair by the fire Mrs Darling sits dozing. Nana lies asleep at foot of Wendy's bed — on the bed. The children's pyjamas are airing on fender. The light is on. Mrs D is dreaming of her children.

MRS D.(starting up in transport of delight): Wendy, John, Alexander — my children! (Nana jumps off bed — Mrs D. realises it is only a dream.) Oh, Nana, it is only a dream! (Sits again.) I dreamt my children had come back! (Nana sits beside her and puts a paw on her lap — Mrs D. sees night-clothes on fender.) You have put their night-things out again! Oh, Nana, it has touched my heart to see you do that night after night, as if you expected my children to come back — but they will never come back! (They weep together, using the same handkerchief — enter Helen R.)

HELEN: Nana's dinner is served. (Exit Nana sedately R.)

MRS D.: Is the master's own dinner ready yet, Helen?

HELEN(pointing to a bowl on table): It's there.

MRS D.(with gentle reproof): On the table! Why not put it in the only place where you know he will take it? (Helen indignantly puts the bowl on floor.) And his water dish? (Helen pushes dog's water dish near the bowl & puts a bottle of stout beside it.)

HELEN(bursting forth): I want to give notice!

MRS D.(pained): Oh, Helen — is it the stairs?

HELEN: No. Ma'am, it's the master. A master as lives in a dog-kennel!

MRS D.: Out of remorse, Helen.

HELEN: And goes to his office in a kennel — on top of a cab — with all the street-boys running along side cheering! (Cheers outside.) There! That's him come back!

(Enter a cabby and a street-hoist carrying kennel in which is Mr Darling in his office clothes. They are exhausted, but he is in imperturbable good humour.

DARLING: Thank you, my men. (They exeunt — he addresses wife gaily from kennel.) Ah, old lady, got any little trifle for me? (She stoops and gives him a kiss.)That's right, Helen, if you will be so good. (Taking off coat and silk hat and giving them to her while she gives him a house jacket — more cheering.) Listen to them! It's very gratifying!

HELEN: Lot of little boys!

DARLING: There are several adults today.

HELEN: Poof! (Exits scornfully.)

DARLING: Jealous cat! (He falls to with relish on his meal, supping from bowl with spoon — in basin is a saucer from which he drinks.)

MRS D.(sitting on a low stool beside him): What sort of day have you had, George?

DARLING: Superb! There was never less than a hundred running along side the cab and when we were passing the Stock Exchange the whole of the members came out and cheered me. They simply would have a speech.

MRS D.: I am so proud, dear.

DARLING: The papers are finding me out — seven interviewers! And a deputation of ladies, so affected by my receiving them in the kennel that they wept. Twelve autograph books and six invitations to dinner from leaders of society, all saying "Do come in the kennel." I think you've married pretty well, Mary, pretty well — ah? — ha? ah?

MRS D.: I do hope your head won't be turned, George.

DARLING: If I had been a weak man, my dear — good heavens, if I had been a weak man! Where's my pipe — where's my backy? I never knew such a kennel! (Finds them in it — lights pipe.) Ah! Mary, we should never have been such celebrities if the children hadn't flown away. How strangely things turn out for the best.

MRS D.: Oh, George, you are sorry the children have gone, aren't you?

DARLING: Sorry! Isn't all this dreadful punishment for them!

MRS D.: You are sure it is punishment, George? You are sure you are not enjoying it, dear?

DARLING: Mary, how can you?

MRS D.: Forgive me, dear one.

DARLING: There, there! And now I feel like a snooze. Won't you play me to sleep on the nursery piano?

MRS D.(rising): Very well.

DARLING: And shut that window. I feel a draught.

MRS D.: Oh, George, never ask me to do that. The window must always be left open for them. (Hesitating.) George, those ladies who wept over you — you didn't kiss them, did you?

DARLING: My love, they kept asking for something to remember me by — and I am a poor man.

(Mrs D. exits into day nursery, from which unseen she is heard playing Home Sweet Home — Darling retires into kennel and sleeps. The music goes on while Wendy, John and Alexander enter by window — Wendy and John in suppressed excitement — Alex dazed.)

ALEX(speaking in a low voice, as the others do also): John, I think I have been here before.

JOHN: It's your home, you silly.

WENDY: There is your old bed, Alexander.

ALEX: I had nearly forgotten.

JOHN: I say! The kennel!

WENDY: How odd! Perhaps Nana's in it.

JOHN(peeping): There's a man asleep in it.

WENDY: It's Father.

JOHN: So it is!

ALEX: Let me see Father. He's not so big as the pirate I killed.

JOHN: Wendy, surely Father didn't use to sleep in a kennel?

WENDY: Oh, John, I'm so afraid that perhaps we don't remember the old life as well as we thought we did!

JOHN(chilled): It's very careless of Mother not to be here when we come back.

WENDY: H'sh! (Pointing through door L.) That's her playing.

ALEX(looking): Who is that lady?

JOHN: It's Mother.

ALEX: Then are you not really our mother, Wendy?

WENDY: Oh dear! It was quite time we came back.

JOHN: Let's creep in and put our hands over her eyes.

WENDY: No, she mustn't know we are back all at once. Let us break it to her gently.

(She whispers a plan to them — then all get into their own beds and cover selves with the clothes except their heads. They lie with eyes open exulting till music stops — then at sign from Wendy they shut eyes and pretend to sleep — Enter Mrs D. R.)

MRS D.(softly): Are you asleep, George? (She sees Wendy in bed and puts her hand to her heart, for she does not believe that is is really Wendy — she repeats same action on seeing John and Alex — she looks away from them.) I see them in their beds — so often — in my dreams — that I seem still to see them when I am awake, and all the time I know they are not there. (Sits C.) I'll not look again. So often in my dreams their silver voices call me.

WENDY(softly): Mother!

MRS D.(without looking — mournfully): That's Wendy!

JOHN(softly): Mother!

MRS D.: Now it's John!

ALEX(softly): Mother!

MRS D.: Now little Alexander! (As they speak they sit up with outstretched arms, but she is not looking at them.) And when they call I stretch out my arms to them (does so — brings arms together, drops them), but they never come. They never come!

(Again her arms are outstretched — the children have risen & stolen towards her. Wendy slips into the space between her arms, then John then Alex, so that her arms close on the three of them — Rapture, or possibly there may be a dramatic song here.)

CHILDREN: Mother, Mother, Mother!

MRS D.: It can't be true!

ALEX: Mummy, pinch me and I'll pinch you — and so you see it's true. (Repeated endearments — Darling peeps out of kennel.)

MRS D.: George! (She makes the sounds with which one wheedles a dog — so do the others. John whistles — Darling slowly emerges with some straw sticking on him.)

DARLING(feeling awkward): I feel as if I were standing on my hind legs.

MRS D.: Dear, the children are waiting.

DARLING: One moment, while I say goodbye to an old friend. (Looking at kennel.) In those days of hard competition, it was rather jolly in there. (Putting hand on kennel.) Old friend — old home — never again! (Stretching out arms.) My children! (Embraces them — Nana enters R.)

PETER: You needn't say their names, servant. (The remainder of the twenty are ushered in and go up L. so that Wendy and Peter have down stage and especially L. down stage to themselves.) Now ladies you are not to say a woard — I'm captain. (To Wendy.) What next?

WENDY(whispers): Those who are not affected by the sight of baby clothes can't be fine mothers.

PETER: You green one, you yellow one, and you little one, come here. (They step forward.) You are not true mothers — the door! Servant! (The three indignant are shown out.) Curly, come. (Curly steps forward.) What next?

WENDY: A true mother always thinks her own boy the prettiest, so the one who thinks Curly the prettiest, that one will be his mother.

PETER: The lady who thinks this boy the prettiest, forward. (Four ladies come.) Four of them!

WENDY(aside to Peter): A true mother has shiny eyes when she looks at her offspring.

PETER: Oho! All you four look hard at Curly. (They do so.) Harder — harder! (Their eyes nearly stand out of their heads. Peter and Wendy examine them.) You one — and you one who don't have shiny eyes — go away! Servant! (Two exeunt.) There's two yet!

WENDY(after thinking hard) Curly, lie down on that bed — and sleep. (He does so — to ladies.) Now we want to see you give that sleeping boy a — a thimble.

ONE LADY: A thimble?

PETER: It's like this. (Kisses her.)

LADY: Oh! (She gives Curly such a smack of a kiss that he sits up.)

PETER: That's her, that's Curly's one.

TOOTLES: Curly's got his!

WENDY: Wait! This other one must get her chance. Sleep again, Curly. (He does so.) Now! (Second lady kisses Curly so softly that he doesn't open his eyes.) There! (Peter is puzzled. Wendy whispers to him.)

PETER: Oh! (Publicly.) You see this lady gave him a smack that wakened him — but a true mother does it without wakening him. (To first lady.) Go away, lady. (She goes — to Curly.) Curly, this is you mother — lady, this is your long lost son. Go and hug him in the day nursery. (Lady exits L. with brave Curly and other boys cheer.) Nibs next. (Nibs comes down.) Come here those who think Nibs the prettiest. (Three come.) The others turn your backs. (They do so — to Wendy.) Shall we have animal instincts this time?

WENDY(whispering): You see any kind lady would do it if she wasn't in danger herself, but — (Whispers.)

PETER: Yes! All stand here — you too, Nibs. (All get into fender.) You are all being burned! Save yourselves! (Two rush out of danger, but the third helps Nibs before herself.) Nibs, this is your mother! (Waves them to day nursery.) You two, go home. (They exeunt — cheer from boys.) Slightly next. (Slightly comes down hopefully.)

WENDY: Oh, you naughty Slightly, you have been biting your knuckles again — see how they are bleeding!

PETER: Those who think Slightly is the prettiest, come. (Slightly is expectant, but nobody comes.) Oh!

WENDY: Oh dear! (Slightly nearly cries.)

PETER: Those who write their names on their children's clothes, come. (Lady Elizabeth and another come.)

SLIGHTLY(proud of Lady El): I knew that was my one, Peter, shall she take me into the day nursery and hug me?

PETER: Silence! wendy, what next?

WENDY(whispering): His knuckles are bleeding. Now a true mother would know at once if her boy's knuckles were bleeding.

PETER(to the two): Do you notice anything about Slightly? (They notice nothing.) Go away. (They exeunt.) It's not going to do this time, Wendy.

WENDY: Oh dear! Slightly, walk past those other ladies — just in case it should be one of them. (Slightly does so — in vain — he is a forlorn figure.) It's very disappointing, Peter.

PETER: Servant, put this boy out.

HELEN(about to do so): Oh, Miss Wendy, his poor little knuckles are bleeding!

PETER(quickly): When did you see they were bleeding?

HELEN: I didn't see it — I just feel it in my bones.

PETER: Servant, you are his mother! Day nursery! (They go.) First Twin next. (First Twin comes.)

WENDY: Both twins!

PETER: We can't do more than one at a time.

WENDY(not knowing how to explain): Oh dear!

PETER: Come here those who think this boy the prettiest. (One comes.) There's just one, so she's your mother. Lady, take him into the day nursery. (She is going.) Second Twin. (Second Twin comes.)

WENDY: But, Peter, we — they are twins, you know.

PETER: Of course they are twins.

WENDY: Yes, but you see — twins — it's so awkward to me to have to explain. You know waht twins are, don't you, Peter?

PETER: Nobody really knows what twins are.

WENDY: Oh! Father!

DARLING(coming to her assistance): With regard to this suject, Captain, you see, life is like this, sometimes it's one at a time, and sometimes it's two at a time. Oh, if that doesn't make it clear to you I give up.

WENDY: Mummy!

MRS D.: Peter, when a lady — Wendy, I can't, his innocence is so touching.

PETER(to stand no more nonsense): Those who think this boy the prettiest, come.

DARLING: There will be a grave miscarriage of justice here. (The same lady comes with First Twin.)

PETER: You've had one already. All turn backs. (They do so.) Wendy, she has had the other twin but she's the only one who stepped forward, so what do you say to pretending she's the second twin's mother too!

WENDY: Yes, Peter, yes!

PETER: Lady, you are the mother of both the twins. (She takes both L. to Peter's entertainment.) Oh, what a joke! Tootles is the last. (Tootles comes.) Now all you ladies lie down on the beds and sleep. (The seven ladies left do so.) Now Tootles stand here and say in a whiper so low that nobody can hear it, "Mother, I feel flushed!" But how can that help, Wendy?

WENDY: You see though a mother is sleeping ever so soundly if her boy says "I feel flushed" it wakes her up at once.

PETER: Say it Tootles. (Tootles lips are seen saying it — three ladies start up — Peter addresses the four who remain sleeping.) Ladies, wake up and go home. (The four exeunt.)

WENDY: Shoe now, Peter.

PETER: Oh, yes. Tootles — (Whispers to him — Tootles sits down and kicks off one shoe — Peter addresses a lady.) You, lady, put on Tootles' shoe. (She does so — he again kicks it off — she puts it on — this is repeated.)

LADY(angrily): Oh, I've lost patience with you.

PETER: Then you are not his mother — go.

TOOTLES: I'm very sorry for you, lady. (She goes.)

PETER: There's two yet. You can't have two mothers, can you?

WENDY: No, not in England.

PETER: Now, then, Tootles, go to these ladies, and box their ears hard.

TOOTLES: Oh Peter!

PETER: This is your last chance. (Tootles apparently cuffs a lady hard.)

LADY(taken aback indignantly): How dare you, boy!

PETER: Lady — (Signs the door — she goes.) I don't believe you are to get one, Tootles — but try this lady.

TOOTLES: Peter, I don't know how it is, but I feel I can't hit tht one.

PETER: That shows she can't be your mother. (Tootles cuffs her — she is the countess.)

COUNTESS: Oh, Tootles dear, I hope you haven't hurt you hand!

WENDY: She's his mother, Peter!

PETER: Tootles, you're a lord. That's them all, Wendy.

DARLING: Captain, I congratulate you heartily.

PETER: Thank you, Grandpa. (Darling winces.) Wendy, you didn't have to help me a bit! I did it all myself!

WENDY: Yes, peter.

(Peter crows — the happy mothers and their children return from R. — the boys wrapped in cravats &c of John's — possibly song and dance here.)